OTHER STATE OFFICERS.
Adjutant-General.--To aid the governor in the discharge of his duties as
commander-in-chief, there is an officer called the adjutant-general.
Through him all general orders to the state militia are issued. He also
keeps the rolls and records of the militia. In some states he is required
by law to act as attorney for those seeking pensions from the United
States.
Railroad Commissioners.--To prevent railroads from charging extortionate
rates for passengers or freight; to see that reasonable facilities are
provided, such as depots, side tracks to warehouses, cars for transporting
grain, etc.; to prevent discrimination for or against any person or
corporation needing these cars; in other words, to secure fair play
between the railroads and the people, a railroad commission consisting of
from one to three members has been established in many states by the
legislature.
Insurance Commissioner.--To protect the people from unreliable insurance
companies, there is an officer called the insurance commissioner. No
insurance company can legally transact business in the state until it has
satisfied the commissioner that its methods of insurance and its financial
condition are such as to give the security promised to those insured by
it. The certificate of authority granted to any company may be revoked by
the commissioner at any time if the company refuses or neglects to comply
with the conditions established by law.
State Librarian.--Each state has a valuable library, composed chiefly of
law books, but containing also many other valuable books and pamphlets.
This library is open to the public. It is in charge of the state
librarian, who acts under prescribed rules.
Public Examiner.--To render assurance doubly sure that public money shall
be used only for the purposes for which it is designed, provision is made
for the appointment of "a skillful accountant, well versed in the theory
and practice of bookkeeping," to exercise constant supervision over the
financial accounts of state and county officers and of banking
institutions incorporated under state laws. This officer is called the
public examiner.
The officers visited are required by law to furnish the public examiner
facilities for his work, and to make returns to him under oath. The
examiner reports to the governor, who is empowered to take action to
protect the interests of the people.
Oil Inspector.--To protect the people from the danger of burning oil unfit
for illuminating purposes, there is an officer called the inspector of
illuminating oils. The inspector appoints a deputy for each county. It is
the duty of these officers to test the illuminating oils offered for sale,
and to mark the barrel or package containing it "approved" or "unsafe for
illuminating purposes," as the case may be. Penalties are attached to the
selling of oils not approved.
Boiler Inspector.--Steam is now used as power in threshing grain and in
grinding it, in sawing lumber, in propelling boats and cars, etc. To
prevent loss of life, engineers must pass an examination and secure a
certificate of qualification. And boilers must be inspected at least once
a year to prevent explosions. The latter duty devolves upon the state
boiler inspector and his assistants. Locomotive engines on railroads are
sometimes exempt from government inspection, because of the invariably
high skill of the engineers and the great care of the companies.
Labor Commissioner.--Among the questions now receiving consideration from
states and nations are many referring to labor--the healthfulness of
factories, hours of labor, employment of children, protection against
accidents, etc. In many of the states there is a commissioner of labor to
make inspections and formulate statistics pertaining to labor.
Officers Peculiar to Certain States.--There are in some states other
officers, necessitated by special industries. Thus, in Minnesota, where
the grain, dairy and lumber interests are very important, there are
inspectors of grain, a dairy commissioner, and surveyors-general of logs.
Appointment and Term.--The officers named in this chapter are elected in
some states; in others they are appointed by the governor and confirmed by
the senate. The term is usually two years.
All are required to give bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties.
All have clerks, deputies, or assistants, appointed by themselves, for
whose official acts they are responsible.
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS.
Besides the boards in charge of the several state institutions there are
usually a number of administrative boards. Of these the most important are:
1. _The state hoard of health_, whose duty it is "to make inquiries
concerning the causes of disease, especially of epidemics; the effect of
employments, conditions, and circumstances upon the public health," etc.
2. _The state board of charities and corrections_, whose duty it is "to
investigate the whole system of public charities and correctional
institutions of the state, and examine into the condition and management
thereof, especially of prisons, jails, infirmaries, public hospitals, and
asylums."
3. _State board of equalization_, which equalizes assessments throughout
the state so as to render taxation as nearly just as possible. This board
takes cognizance only of _classes_ of property; it does not attempt to
correct individual grievances.
4. _The state board of immigration_, appointed "to encourage immigration,
by disseminating information regarding the advantages offered by this
state to immigrants."
5. _The commissioners of fisheries_, whose duty is to take means to
increase the number of food fish in lakes and rivers. To this end the
board secures from the United States commissioner of fisheries the quota
of spawn allotted from time to time to the state, and from other sources
spawn of such fish as seem desirable, and has them placed in such lakes
and rivers as they will be most likely to thrive in.
The members of these boards are appointed by the governor. They serve
without pay, except the board of equalization. The state pays the expenses
incident to the discharge of their duty. The secretary of each board
receives a salary, specified by law.
There are also boards to examine candidates for admission to practice
medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and law.
_Some Pertinent Questions._
Locate the state university, the state normal schools, all of the schools
for the unfortunate, the lunatic asylums, the state prisons.
What is the maximum rate per mile that can be charged by railroads for the
transportation of passengers in this state? How came this to be? If a
farmer wished to ship a carload of wheat without putting it into a
warehouse, how could he get a car? If a car were refused what could he do?
Examine the end of a kerosene cask, and find out what the marks on it
mean. By reference to the latest report of the secretary of the state
board of immigration, find out what inducements to immigrants this state
offers. Is there probably such a board as this in the eastern states? Why?
In European countries? Why?
Does your school receive copies of the pamphlets issued by the state board
of health?